Discussion:
 
Our group made the hypothesis that Zones 3 and 6 will have a higher population of geese because they are more isolated than Zones 1, 7, 8, and 9, which we believed would have a lower population of geese.  We also hypothesize that Zones 1 and 2 will have a low population of geese.  We made our hypotheses based on our initial observations of the park.  We looked at where human presence would be the highest (i.e. location of tennis courts, paths, etc.) and where in the park was the most isolated.  We also considered the vegetation buffer located in Zone 2 (Figure 8). 
 We found that in previous years, Zones 2 and 5 had the highest populations of geese.  We also compared the average total number of geese for every zone from 2001-2007.  After looking through the data we found that there was a higher population of geese in 2003 and 2006.  Higher population during these years could be due to any number of reasons: weather, human use and disruption, pollution, and other animals.  However, our data did show Zones 2 and 5 had a significantly higher population then other zones.

Figure 8: Map of Zone Divisions of Vilas Park with Highlighted Vegetation Buffer

The increase in the goose population in Zone 1, from 2001-2005, could be due to the vegetation buffer deterring geese away from Zone 2 and into Zone 1.  The decrease in 2007 could be due to the geese getting accustomed to the vegetation buffer and walking around the buffer to Zone 2.  However, these trends could be due to many other factors, two examples being human presence or coincidence. 
 
In Zone 2, from 2003-2004 there was a significant increase in the goose population. Zone 2 is an area of the park where humans prefer to congregate in a feces free area.  As a result of this increase, Friends of Lake Wingra along with the City of Madison Parks attempted to decrease the goose population in that area.  In 2005, there was a vegetation buffer planted along the edge of the pond in Zone 2, extending into Zone 1.  This could account for the significant decrease in the goose population of Zone 2 in 2006.  Human activity could also account for this decrease.  Zone 2 has a soccer field, tennis courts, and a basketball court in close vicinity.  It is not as isolated as some of the other zones. 
 
The increase in goose population in Zone 3, in 2006, could be due to the vegetation buffer; the geese may have been deterred from the buffer and sought land available in Zone 3.  This increase could also be due how isolated Zone 3 is from human presence.
 
The decrease in goose population in Zone 6, from 2003-2005, could be due to the vegetation buffer deterring geese away from the land on the opposite side of the pond to Zone 6, seeking land.
 
Since Zones 8 and 9 are a recreational attraction for humans we believe this causes a low goose population overall.  There are picnic tables and a beach which brings human presence, possibly deterring the geese away from these zones.  This low population trend could also be due to other factors.
 
Things that we needed to take into consideration when analyzing our data and coming to possible explanations are as follows:

• In 2005, there were only two counts taken.  Both days were in October.  Therefore, all of our collective data is skewed.
• When taking data in October and November, we must consider the effectiveness of the vegetation buffer.  During these fall months, the vegetation buffer was dying because of the weather change.
• The resident geese are getting accustomed to the vegetation buffer; therefore, they are not deterred by the vegetation buffer like the migrant geese who are not familiar with the buffer.

When comparing our counts to those of other observers we found our data was very similar (Figure 6 and Figure 7).  This suggests that the counting method used is fairly accurate.
 
There are several errors that could have occurred during our observations including: geese moving from zone to zone which would either result in counting them twice or missing them altogether, and not accurately counting the geese particularly when they are in large groups.  There could be error also when determining where a zone begins and ends.  Deciding which zone to put them in when they were on the edges of zones was hard.  Another factor could be that the geese are disturbed many times during the day by human presence which makes them move to other zones. 
 
We noticed that the geese moved to zones where there was less human contact.  By looking at previous data and what we have observed and collected, we come to the conclusion that the geese either move from zone to zone when humans are present or that they are occupying the zones with least human contact.  We also noticed increases and decreases in the goose populations, in specific zones, demonstrating the effects of the vegetation buffer.  Including the decrease in population in Zone 2—the goal of the vegetation buffer.
 
For future management to make the vegetation buffer more effective, we offer some suggestions, since the geese are becoming accustomed to the buffer:

• Research and observation solely focused on the effectiveness of vegetation buffer.  For example, watching the behavior of the geese with the buffer on the goose camera.
• Experimentation with changing the physical aspects of the buffer.  For example, different vegetation, extending the buffer, and/or making it thicker.

For future researchers, studying the distribution of the goose population at Vilas Park, we suggest:

• Study just the vegetation buffer, comparing and contrasting the population surrounding the buffer, before and after it was planted.
• Study the trends of the feces present in the surrounding zones of the buffer, focusing on Zone 2.
• Study the human presence in each zone and the effects they have.
• Study the behavior of the geese in relation to the vegetation buffer (i.e. walking right through the vegetation or going around it).
• Study the difference of behavior of the migrant and resident geese, in relation to the vegetation buffer (are the resident geese becoming accustomed to the vegetation buffer, resulting in the slight increase of goose population in Zone 2, from 2006-2007).

After collecting data and interpreting it, we have found that the vegetation buffer alone, will not completely control the goose population in Zone 2.  Further research needs to be done in order to create a solution for feces problem in Zone 2.  Our research considered only a few factors that effected in the distribution of the goose population of Vilas Park.  We realize that there are many other contributing factors that need to be taken into account (for example, weather). 

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